Large Antique Dedication Panel From the Xianfeng Period of the Qing DynastyThe carved panel is of interest to the history buff. It is carved in honor of a Lady Ren The names of the people who had the panel carved in her honor are listed below the Four Large Auspicious Characters that more or less translates loosely as "May the glory of her office shines brightly as the stars." This is my literal translation and needs correction by esteemed Chinese scholars whose knowledge of literary Chinese exceed mine. The dating is within

The top is slightly concave

so successfully done in the traditional landscape painting as well as here

The snuff bottle carver paid careful attention to cut the stone to display the bands to their best advantage

Dimensions: 2 inches wide x 0

This is Chinese basket weaving at its best

)  He is holding an open scroll that has four characters "Nian Nian Fa Zai" which is totally unbuddhist but fully Chinese

Excavated condition

Obviously this is a summer cage

The pale gray "eye" must have been an accidental result

there are two bare footed males

The carving is from a  colorful stone that is beige

as evident here by the orderly arrangement of wavy hair